Selective production means for wells



Jan. 12, 1943.

c. H. BARNES SELECTIVE PRODUCTION MEANS FOP. WELLS Filed Jan. 22, 1940 f3 fj /r f f f a v v Y f rlllllllllf mvENToR y' #E46/yf? ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 12, 1943 UNITED 'STATES PATENT ori-lcs Charles H. Barnes, Glendale, Calif., assigner to Lane-Wells Company, Los Angeles, Calif., a` corporationo! Delaware Application January 22, 1940, Serial No. 315,046 'l Claims. (Cl. 16B- 12) My invention relatesl to selective production means for wells, and among the objects of my invention are:

' producing zones located on opposite sides of the packer;

Second, to provide a means oi this character whereby production may be readily and quickly changed from one production zone to the other;

Third, to provide a means of this character wherein the upper zone may be produced between the tubing and casing simultaneously with production from the lower zone; and

Fourth, to provide a novelly constructed valve and surface-operated control means, said means being adapted to be lowered or dropped through the tubing and readily retrieved therefrom.

AWith the above and other objects in view, as may appear hereinafter. reference is directed to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a weil with my selective production means shown in elevation therein and in association Awith a packer set within the well casing;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through my selective production means showing the parts in the positions assumed when ready for production from the uppermost of two zones; y

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view oi a valve-operating go-devil with the parts in the positions assumed when the go-devil is lowered or raised in the tubing; and

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of my selective production means similar to Figure 2, but showing the parts in the positions assumed when producing from the lowermost of two zones.

My selective production means is adapted to be used in wells having an upper producing zone designated A and a lower producing zone designated B. The well bore is provided with the usual casing C having periorations D communicating with the upper Zone. The casing may terminate short oi the lower zone or be provided with periorations E communicating therewith.

A conventional packer I is :setl in the casing between the zones A and B. Said packer is provided with a=tubular`passage therethrough connected with a tubing string 2 from which the packer is suspended. My selective production means, designated Il, is interposed between the packer l and the tubing string 2.

My selective production means comprises a tubular case'I2 which is internally threaded at its upper end for connection to an adaptor Il which in turn is internally threaded lor connection to the tubing 2. The lower end of the case I2 is likewise internally threaded and is Joined to an adaptor i4 which is secured to the upper end of the packer I. At its lower end, above the adaptor i4, the bore of the case I2 is constricted. as indicated by I5, forming shoulders I6 and Il at the lower and upper ends, respectively, thereof.

Between the constriction I8 and the upper end of the case there is fitted a sleeve valve Il which controls intake ports l! provided in the case I2 near its upper end. Between the lower end of the sleeve valve I8 and the constriction II there is interposed a spring 20 whichvnormally holds the sleeve valve in its upper or port-closing position, as shown best in Figure 4. The sleeve valve Il is provided with a bore therethrough equal to the nominal inside diameter or' the adaptor il and the tubing thereabove, except that at the lower end of the sleeve valve I8 there is provided a slight constriction which forms a shoulder 2|. The sleeve valve constriction is slightly less than the constriction I5 so that a member clearing the shoulder 2| may engage the shoulder I1 for purposes to be brought out hereinafter.

The sleeve valve is adapted to be held in an open position by means of a valve-holding godevil designated generally by 3|. The go-devil comprises a head member 32 provided with a shoulder 33 adapted to coact with shoulder 2| oi the sleeve valve, and preferably form a iluid-tight connection therewith. The lower end of the head member, which is generally cylindrical in form, is connected to a tube 3l, in the lower end of which are provided lateral openings adapted to receive key balls 35.

The tube 34 is small enough to pass through the constriction l5 and the key balls 35 are adapted to coact with the shoulder I6 at the lower end oi the constriction i5. Normally the key balls occupy an inner position, as shown best in Figure 3, and are held in such position by a retainer sleeve 36 which fits over the tube Il. The retainer sleeve is adapted to fit within the constriction il except for its upper end, which is provided with a flange 31 adapted to engage the shoulder I1 but clear the shoulder 2|. A spring 38 is interposed between the retainer sleeve 36 and the head member I2 so as to urge the sleeve downwardly. However, when the ilange 31 engages the shoulder Il the sleeve is moved upwardly so as to permit the key balls 35 to move outwardly for engagement with the shoulder I5.

The tube 34 contains a spreader member` 39 having a major diametered portion adapted to pass between the key balls 35 when they are in their extended position shown in Figure 2, and a minor diametered portion adapted to allow the through the port I 9. communicating with the upper zone A. If for any reason it is desired to key balls to occupy the retracted position shown l interposed between the sealing block 42 and the' spreader member 39.

The valve 4| is connected to a handle 44 which extends upwardly through the head member 32 and terminates in a knob designed for engagement with a conventional fishing tool such as used on wire lines for the purpose of retrieving removable core barrels. inasmuch as such ilshing tools are conventional, none are here disclosed.

A second or valve-opening go-devil, designated generally by I, is employed to move the sleeve valve from the position shown in Figure 4 to that shown in Figure 2. The valve-opening go-devl comprises a tubular body 52, the lower end of `which is adapted to engage the head member 32 of the valve-holding go-devil. The upper end of the body 52 is provided with a piston 53 adapted to ll the opening in the tubing 2 so that fluid pressure may be applied. A suitable mandrel is provided at the upper end o1' the body 52 ior engagement with a ilshing tool.

Operation of my selective production mieans is as follows: When it is desired to produce from the lower zone B the selective production sub is in its normal position shown in Figure 4, that is, a passageway is provided through the packer and through the production sub, which passageway is isolated from the exterior of the case 4I2 by the sleeve valve I8.

When it is desired to produce from the upper zone A the valve-holding go-devil 3| is dropped or lowered to position and the valve-opening godevil 5| is dropped or lowered thereon. Fluid pressure is then applied to the top of the valveopening go-devil 5|, which forces the valve-holding go-devil downward and by reason of the coacting shoulders 2| and 33 the sleeve valve I3 is urged downwardly against the tension of the spring 20. The downward movement continues until the key balls 35 are below the shoulder I6 and the retainer sleeve 35 has been held stationary by reason of engagement oi' its flange 31 with the shoulder I1. The spring 43 thereupon urges the spreader member 39 downwardly. facing the key balls outwardly so that they may engage the shoulder I6.

The valve-holding go-devil 3| does not seal the constriction I5, so that the pressure o! the zone B acts in conjunction with the spring 20 to urge the sleeve valve upwardly to maintain a tight nt between the shoulders 2| and 33. The sleeve valve is closely tted within the case I2 so that thereis no leakage between these two members.

After the sleeve valve has been moved to its open position the valve-opening go-devil 5| is retrieved and production may then be had again produce from the lower zone Bit is merely necessary to lower a shing tool to engage the handle 44 of the valve-holding go-devil 3 I. Upon pulling upwardly on the handle 44 the spreader member 39 is moved from between the key balls 35, and by reason of the fact that the shoulder I6 is tapered the key balls move inwardly to their original position, thereby freeing the go-devil. The retainer sleeve thereupon returns to its original position so that the parts of the go-devil are in the position shown in Figure 3 and the go-devil may bev readily retrieved. As soon as the sleeve valve is released the spring 23 returns it to its upper position. closing port I9.

Various changes and alternate arrangements may be made within the scope of the appended claims, in which it is my intention to claim all novelty inherent in the invention as broadly as the prior art permits.

I claim:

1. In a well apparatus adapted to be interposed in a tubing string: a case interposed in said tubing string, said case having a longitudinal bore communicating with the interior of the tubing string, a constriction in said bore forming abutment shoulders, and lateral ports in the walls of said case; a sleeve valve fitting the bore of said case and adapted to cover said lateral ports; a spring between said sleeve and one of said shoulders, normally urging said sleeve valve to cover said ports; and a gofdevil unit adapted to be lowered through said tubing string, said godevil including means engageable with said sleeve valve to urge said sleeve valve against the spring, and means engageable with the other shoulder of said constriction to secure said sleeve in an open position.

2. In a well apparatus adapted to be interposed in a tubing string: a case interposed in said tubing string, said case having a longitudinal bore communicating with the interior of the tubing string, a constriction in said bore forming abutment shoulders, and lateral ports in the walls of said case; a sleeve valve fitting the bore of said case and adapted to cover said lateral ports; a spring between said sleeve and one of said shoulders, normally urging said sleeve valve to cover said ports; a go-devil unit adapted to be lowered through the tubing string, said go-devil including means engageable with said sleeve valve to urge said sleeve valve 'to a position uncovering said lateral ports; key elements engageable with the other shoulder of, said constriction for securing said valve in its open position; and means operable from the upper end oi' said go-devil for j releasing said key elements from vengagement with said shoulder.

3. In a well apparatus adapted to be interposed in a tubing string: a case interposed in said tubing string, said case having a longitudinal bore communicating with the interior of the tubing y string, a constriction in said bore forming abutment shoulders and lateral ports in the walls di said case; a sleeve valve iltting vthe bore of said case and adapted to cover said lateral ports; a spring between said sleeve and one of said shoulders, normally urging said sleeve valve to cover valve is in'an open position; and a retainer slidably mounted on said body and normally restraining-said key elements, said retainer engageable with said constriction to release said key elements upon insertion of said body in said constriction.

4. In a well apparatus adapted to be interposed in a tubing string: a case interposed in said tubing string, said case having a longitudinal bore communicating with the interior of the tubing string, a constriction in said bore forming abutment shoulders and lateral ports in the walls oi said case; a sleeve valve fitting the bore of said case and adapted to cover said lateral ports; a spring between said sleeve and one of said shoulders, normally urging said sleeve valve to cover said ports; a go-devil unit adapted to be lowered through the tubing string, said go-devil including a body engageable with said sleeve valve to urge said valve to an open position; key elements carried by said body and adapted to coact with the other shoulder of said constriction when said valve is in an open position; a retainer slidably mounted on said body and normally restraining said key elements, said retainer engageable with said constriction to release said key elements upon insertion of said body in said constriction; means in said body including a yieldable element for4 urging said key elements into engagement with said shoulder; and a device operable from the upper end of said go-devil for retracting said means, thereby to permit retraction of said key elements.

5. In a well apparatus adapted to be interposed in a tubing string: a case interposed in said tubing string, said case having a longitudinal bore communicating with the interior oi the tubing string, a constriction in said bore forming abutment shoulders, and lateral ports in the walls oi said case; a sleeve valve fitting the bore of said case and adapted to cover said lateral ports; a spring between said sleeve and one oi said shoulders, normally urging said sleeve valve to cover said ports; a go-devil unit adapted to be lowered through the tubing string, said go-devil including means engageable with said sleeve valve to urge said sleeve valve to a position uncovering said lateral ports; key elements engageable with the other shoulder of said constriction for securing said valve in its open position; means operable from the upper end of said go-devil for releasing said key elements from engagement with said shoulder; and a second go-devil including a piston element responsive to iluid pressure in said tubing string, and a stem engageable with said ilrst go-devil for urging said first godevil downwardly to engage and open said sleeve valve, said second go-devil being removable independently of said ilrst go-devil.

6. In a well apparatus adapted to be interposed in a tubing string: a case interposed in said tubing string, said case having a longitudinal bore communicating with the interior of the tubing string, a constriction in said bore forming abutment shoulders and lateral ports in the walls oi' said case; a sleeve valve fitting the bore of said case and adapted to cover said lateral ports; a spring between said sleeve and one of said shoulders, normally urging said sleeve valve to cover said ports; a go-devil unit adapted to be lowered through the tubing string, said godevil including a body engageable with said sleeve valve to urge said valve to an open position; key elements carried by said body and adapted to coact with the other shoulder of said constriction when said valve is in an open position; a retainer slidably mounted on said body and normally restraining said key elements, said retainer engageable with said constriction to release said key elements upon insertion of said body in said constrlction; and a second go-devil including a piston element responsive to fluid pressure in said tubing string, and a stem engageable with said first go-devil for urging said rst go-devil down wardly to engage and open said sleeve valve, said second go-devi being removable independently of said rst go-devil.

7. In a well apparatus adapted to be interposed in a tubing string: a case interposed in said tubing string, said case having a longitudinal bore communicating with the interior oi the tubing string, a constriction in said bore forming abutment shoulders and lateral ports in the walls oi said case; a sleeve valve iitting the bore of said case and adapted to cover said lateral ports; a spring between said sleeve and one of said shoulders, normally urging said sleeve valve to cover said ports; a go-devil unit adapted to be lowered through the tubing string, said go-devil including a body engageable with said sleeve valve to urge said valve to an open position; key elements carried by said body and adapted to coact with the other shoulder of said constriction when said valve is in an open position; a retainer slidably mounted on said body and normally restraining said key elements, said retainer engageable with said constriction to release said key elements upon insertion of said body in said constriction; means in said body including a yieldable element for urging said key elements into engagement with said shoulder; a device operable from the upper end of said go-devil for retracting said means, thereby to permit retraction of said key elements; and a second go-devll including a piston element responsive to iluid pressure in said tubing string, and a stern engageable with said first go-devil for urging said rst go-devil downwardly to engage and open said sleeve valve, said second go-devil being removable independently of said iirst go-devil.

' CHARLES H. BARNES. 

